Welch dominates in Naperville North win

At some point Tom Welch realized this might be his last game against Naperville Central.

That's all the motivation he needed.

The Naperville North senior scored 33 points to match the host Redhawks' total output in Friday's 55-33 victory that keeps the Huskies on top of the DuPage Valley Conference with a one-game lead.

The 6-foot-7 forward, a three-year starter committed to Loyola, made 15 of 18 shots from the field and all three of his free-throw attempts while pulling down 5 rebounds. Of all the highlight reel moments, the one that'll endure was a one-handed third-quarter dunk that put some serious electricity in the gymnasium.

Right up until the final minutes when he exited the game, Welch put on a show.

"It still hasn't hit me that my high school career is ending, slowly," Welch said. "It kind of did today and that's why I had a little more emotion in this game."

Naperville Central (7-15, 2-4) won the opening tip and proceeded to hold the ball with Payton Thorne at the top of the Huskies' zone defense. Three minutes passed before the Redhawks attempted a shot, but they couldn't stay in that strategy long.

Not with the Huskies (13-9, 5-1) steadily pulling ahead. Riley Thompson's 3-pointer closed the first quarter, and Welch scored the first two buckets of the second quarter to give Naperville North a 13-6 lead.

"I knew if we limited their possessions, we'd have a chance," said Redhawks coach Pete Kramer. "We just don't have the firepower and defensively we couldn't stop (Welch). He's a monster."

Welch's third-quarter dunk was just the beginning of a dominant eight minutes. He finished with 14 of his team's 16 points in the period as the Huskies built a 38-20 lead that grew to 43-20 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter.

"I knew they were going to try to stop me in some sort of way," Welch said. "My teammates did a great job of getting me open with screens and cuts and just finding me in the right spots. That's why I had so many points tonight."

Beyond Welch's 33, six other players scored for Naperville North. Sam Jackson came off the bench and knocked down three 3-pointers to lead Naperville Central with 9 points.

"Our kids don't need to win a game for me to be proud of them, but I am happy for them," said Naperville North coach Gene Nolan. "I know it's a rivalry game and I know how excited they are. Anytime you play in a game like this, both teams are going to bring it."

Twitter: @kevin_schmit